Celosia plant named ‘ZANCENTHOS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘Zancenthos’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with greyed purple-colored spots; freely flowering habit; bright reddish purple-colored flowers arranged on spicate-type inflorescences; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia argentea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZANCENTHOS’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant.Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Celosiaplant, botanically known as Celosia argentea and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Zancenthos’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact and uniform Celosiaplants with attractive and unique leaf and flower coloration.

The new Celosia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in August, 2016 of a proprietaryCelosia argentea selection identified as code number 13-0044, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Celosiaargentea selection identified as code number 13-0249, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Celosia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Celosiaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zancenthos’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zancenthos’ as a new and Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves with greyed purple-colored spots.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Bright reddish purple-colored flowers arranged on        spicate-type inflorescences.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia have smaller leaves than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Celosia have larger inflorescences than        plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Celosia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in inflorescence size as plants of the new Celosia havesmaller inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia hybrida‘Zancemepur’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,267. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Celosia and ‘Zancemepur’ differ primarilyin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than and not as compact        as plants of ‘Zancemepur’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Celosia are longer than        inflorescences of plants of ‘Zancemepur’.    -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Zancemepur’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Celosia have bright reddish        purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Zancemepur’ have        bright purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Zancenthos’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Zancenthos’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn in 9-cm containers ina glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 20° C.to 22° C. and light levels averaged 2,500 lux. Plants were grown underphotoinductive long nyctoperiods, pinched one time about 2.5 weeks afterplanting and were ten weeks old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia argentea ‘Zancenthos’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Celosia argentea            selection identified as code number 13-0044, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Celosia argentea            selection identified as code number 13-0249, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 19 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and fleshy; close to 199D in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically            grown as a potted plant; compact and broadly upright plant            habit; freely branching habit with about five to six lateral            branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous and            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm to 28 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm. Texture:            Ribbed, glabrous. Color: Close to 138A to 138B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 7 cm to 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 3 cm to 8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to broadly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate to truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; lower            leaves with random sectors and spots, close to N187A;            venation, close to 149D. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 138B; lower leaves with random sectors and            spots, close to 186D; venation, close to 139D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 149D. Color, lower            surface: Close to 139D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single elliptical flowers            arranged in terminal and axillary spikes; spicate-type            inflorescences; flowers face mostly upright; freely            flowering habit, about 70 to 160 flowers per inflorescence            and about 5,500 flowers developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 5.5            weeks after planting; in the garden, plants flower            continuously during the summer in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences last about two            months on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1 cm to 1.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Elliptic. Color: Close to 72A.        -   Petals.—None observed.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About            5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 64C; color does not fade            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 64C; color does not fade with development.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:            About 45° from vertical. Strength: Weak; flexible. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to            N74A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to            155D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            4 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to N74A.            Stigma color: Close to N74C. Ovary color: Close to N144D.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Color:            Close to 202A.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Celosia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Celosia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain and temperatures    ranging from about 10° C. to 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘Zancenthos’ asillustrated and described.